Sensor fusion eye tracking

ABSTRACT

Some implementations of the disclosure involve, at a device having one or more processors, one or more image sensors, and an illumination source, detecting a first attribute of an eye based on pixel differences associated with different wavelengths of light in a first image of the eye. These implementations next determine a first location associated with the first attribute in a three dimensional (3D) coordinate system based on depth information from a depth sensor. Various implementations detect a second attribute of the eye based on a glint resulting from light of the illumination source reflecting off a cornea of the eye. These implementations next determine a second location associated with the second attribute in the 3D coordinate system based on the depth information from the depth sensor, and determine a gaze direction in the 3D coordinate system based on the first location and the second location.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/738,431 filed Sep. 28, 2018, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to remote eye tracking forelectronic devices, and in particular, to systems, methods, and devicesfor providing remote eye tracking for electronic devices that moverelative to the eye.

BACKGROUND

Related art eye tracking falls into two different types. The first typeis mounted eye tracking that includes a sensor that physically movesdependently along with the user (e.g., eyeball). For example, a headmounted display (HMD) moves with user and can provide eye tracking. Thesecond type of eye tracking is remote eye tracking that includes asensor that physically moves with respect to the user (e.g., separatefrom or independently of the user). Some implementations of the secondtype of remote eye tracking use two infrared (IR) light sources (e.g.,active illumination) separated by a minimum baseline distance to createseparate cornea reflections (e.g., separate, detectable glints on thecornea). These remote eye tracking approaches know the extrinsicparameters of both (i) illumination and (ii) sensors. Existing computingsystems, sensors and applications do not adequately provide remote eyetracking for electronic devices that move relative to the user.

SUMMARY

Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, andmethods that perform remote eye tracking for electronic devices thatmove relative to the user.

In some implementations, remote eye tracking determines gaze directionby identifying two locations in a 3D coordinate system along a gazedirection (e.g., a cornea center and a eyeball-rotation center) using asingle active illumination source and depth information. In someimplementations, a first location (e.g., the cornea center) isdetermined using a glint based on the active illumination source anddepth information from a depth sensor and the second location (e.g.,eyeball-rotation center) is determined using a RGB sensor (e.g., ambientlight) and depth information. In some implementations, a single sensorusing the same active illumination source determines the first location(e.g., the cornea center) and the second location (e.g.,eyeball-rotation center), and the single sensor determines both depthinformation and glint information. In some implementations, remote eyetracking is provided by mobile electronic devices.

In some implementations, remote eye tracking determines a head pose in a3D coordinate system, determines a position (e.g., eyeball rotationcenter) of the eye in the 3D coordinate system, and then identifies aspatial relationship between the head pose and the position of the eye.In some implementations, the spatial relationship is uniquely determined(e.g., user specific transformation). In some implementations, thespatial relationship is determined in an enrollment mode of remote eyetracking. Subsequently, in some implementations of a tracking mode ofremote eye tracking, only feature detection images (e.g., RGB cameraimages) and the spatial relationship are used to perform remote eyetracking. In some implementations of a tracking mode of remote eyetracking, the depth information and active illumination are turned off(e.g., reducing power consumption).

One use of remote eye tracking is to identify a point of regard (POR) ona device in the direction of the user gaze, e.g., where the gazedirection intersects the display of the device. A POR can be used tofacilitate user interaction with the device. For example, a system maydetect that the users gaze has reached the bottom of the display and, inresponse, automatically scroll down to display more content to the user.

Some implementations of the disclosure involve, at a device having oneor more processors, one or more image sensors, and an illuminationsource, detecting a first attribute of an eye based on pixel differencesassociated with different wavelengths of light in a first image of theeye. These implementations determine a first location associated withthe first attribute in a three dimensional (3D) coordinate system basedon depth information from a depth sensor. Various implementations detecta second attribute of the eye based on a glint resulting from light ofthe illumination source reflecting off a cornea of the eye. Theseimplementations determine a second location associated with the secondattribute in the 3D coordinate system based on the depth informationfrom the depth sensor, and determine a gaze direction in the 3Dcoordinate system based on the first location and the second location.

Some implementations of the disclosure involve, at a device having oneor more processors, one or more image sensors, and an illuminationsource, detecting a first attribute of an eye based on pixel differencesassociated with different wavelengths of light in a first image of theeye and determining a first location associated with the first attributein a three dimensional (3D) coordinate system based on depth informationfrom a depth sensor. Various implementations determine a head locationin the three dimensional (3D) coordinate system based on a head (e.g.,facial feature) detected in a second image and the depth informationfrom the depth sensor. These implementations determine a second locationassociated with a second attribute of the eye based on the head locationand a previously-determined spatial relationship between the head andthe eye, and determine a gaze direction in the 3D coordinate systembased on the first location and the second location.

Some implementations of the disclosure involve an electronic device thatincludes at least one active (e.g., IR) illumination source, a sensorconfigured to detect depth information in a first image and glints forcornea detection in a second image from reflections of light emitted bythe at least one active illumination source, and one or more processorscoupled to the active illumination source and the sensor to provideremote gaze tracking. Various implementations determine a first locationassociated with a first attribute detected in the first image in a threedimensional (3D) coordinate system based on the depth information.Various implementations determine a second location associated with thedetected glints detected in the second image in the 3D coordinate systembased on the depth information. In some implementations, the one or moreprocessors determine a gaze direction in the 3D coordinate system basedon the first location and the second location.

In accordance with some implementations, a device includes one or moreprocessors, a non-transitory memory, and one or more programs; the oneor more programs are stored in the non-transitory memory and configuredto be executed by the one or more processors and the one or moreprograms include instructions for performing or causing performance ofany of the methods described herein. In accordance with someimplementations, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium hasstored therein instructions, which, when executed by one or moreprocessors of a device, cause the device to perform or cause performanceof any of the methods described herein. In accordance with someimplementations, a device includes: one or more processors, anon-transitory memory, an image sensor, and means for performing orcausing performance of any of the methods described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the present disclosure can be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art, a more detailed description may be had by reference toaspects of some illustrative implementations, some of which are shown inthe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example environment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device including examplesensors for remote eye tracking in accordance with some implementations.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting a 3D representation of an eyeball toillustrate an example eyeball modeling implementation assisting inremote eye tracking.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example method for remote eye trackingin accordance with some implementations.

FIGS. 5A-5B are block diagrams that show example imaging arrays used tocollect information for remote eye tracking in an electronic device inaccordance with some implementations.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electronic device where remote eyetracking provides point of regard (POR) display at the electronic devicein accordance with some implementations.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electronic device where remote eyetracking provides POR display at an additional electronic device coupledto the electronic device in accordance with some implementations.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating device components of an exemplarydevice according to some implementations.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart that shows an example method for remote eyetracking according to some implementations.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart that shows another example method for remote eyetracking according to some implementations.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart that shows yet another example method for remoteeye tracking according to some implementations.

In accordance with common practice the various features illustrated inthe drawings may not be drawn to scale. Accordingly, the dimensions ofthe various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.In addition, some of the drawings may not depict all of the componentsof a given system, method or device. Finally, like reference numeralsmay be used to denote like features throughout the specification andfigures.

DESCRIPTION

Numerous details are described in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the example implementations shown in the drawings.However, the drawings merely show some example aspects of the presentdisclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting. Those ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other effective aspectsor variants do not include all of the specific details described herein.Moreover, well-systems, methods, components, devices and circuits havenot been described in exhaustive detail so as not to obscure morepertinent aspects of the example implementations described herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example electronic device for implementingaspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, anenvironment 100 includes an electronic device 105 being used by a user110. The device 105 moves independently of the head of the user 110. Invarious implementations, the device 105 is configured with a pluralityof sensors to perform remote eye tracking of user 110. As shown in FIG.1, the user 110 has positioned the device 105 in the environment 100 foruse where the face (e.g., one or both eyes) of the user 110 is visibleto the device 105.

The device 105 can operate alone or interact with additional electronicdevices not shown. The device 105 may communicate wirelessly or via awired connection with a separate controller (not shown) to perform oneor more functions. Similarly, the device 105 may store referenceinformation useful for these functions or may communicate with aseparate device such as a server or other computing device that storesthis information. In some implementations, a device, such as the device105 is a handheld electronic device (e.g., a smartphone or a tablet)configured to present various functions to the user 110.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device including examplesensors for remote eye tracking in accordance with some implementations.As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device 105 includes an imaging array250. In various implementations, the imaging array 250 can be used forremote eye tracking. In some implementations, the imaging array 250includes an infrared (IR) sensor 220, a first IR light source orprojector (e.g., IR LED) 222, an RGB camera 230 and a second IR lightsource or projector 224 (e.g., DOT projector). In some implementations,the first IR light source 222 is an IR LED that operates for glintdetection with the IR sensor 220. In some implementations, the first IRlight source 222 is a flood IR light source. In some implementations,the second IR light source is a dot projector that projects 10,000,20,000 or more than 30,000 IR dots for detection in an image of the IRsensor 220. In some implementations, the dot projector and IR sensor 220jointly operate as a depth sensor. In some implementations, the RGBcamera 230 is a RGB-D camera that sequentially generates both RGB imagesand depth images and operates as the depth sensor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting a 3D representation of an eyeball toillustrate an example eyeball modeling implementation for remote eyetracking. While the cornea is the transparent front part of the eye thatcovers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, as shown in FIG. 3, the 3Drepresentation of an eyeball 300 uses a spherical model of a cornea 320.Other 3D representations of the cornea can alternatively be used. Insome implementations, an eyeball model is generated independently oruniquely for each subject. As shown in FIG. 3, the 3D representation ofthe eyeball 300 shows an optical axis 305. In some implementations, theoptical axis 305 corresponds to a gaze direction of the eye 300.

In some implementations, estimating the gaze direction of the eye isbased on determining two locations on the optical axis 305. Someimplementations determine a 3D spatial position of the iris center 315 aand a 3D spatial position of a cornea center 325 as the two locations onthe optical axis 305. Some implementations determine a 3D spatialposition of the eyeball rotation center 310 and a 3D spatial position ofthe cornea center 325 as the two locations on the optical axis 305. Thetwo positions can be determined based on information from varioussensors on a device, known relative spatial positions of those sensors(e.g., extrinsic parameters of IR LED 222 and IR sensor 220 reflectingtheir positional characteristics are known), and generic oruser-specific eye models.

In some implementations, a position of the iris center 315 a isdetermined based on identifying spatial attributes of the iris. Forexample, the 3D spatial position of the iris (e.g., a iris plane 315,iris boundary (not shown), etc.) may be determined using one or more RGBimages of the eye and depth values from a depth map corresponding to theRGB images. The iris center 315 a may then be determined based on thespatial attributes of the iris and a generic or user-specific eye model.

In some implementations, a position of the eyeball rotation center 310is determined based on identifying spatial attributes of the iris. Forexample, the 3D spatial position of the iris may be determined using oneor more RGB images of the eye and depth values from a depth mapcorresponding to the RGB images. The rotation center of the eyeball 310may then be determined based on the spatial position of the iris.

In some implementations, a position of the eyeball rotation center 310is determined based on identifying spatial attributes of the limbus(e.g., limbus center). For example, the 3D spatial position of thelimbus may be determined using one or more RGB images of the eye anddepth values from a depth map corresponding to the RGB images. In someimplementations, given 2D images of the limbus and a previouslydetermined limbus model, the position or orientation of the limbus maythen be determined. The rotation center of the eyeball 310 may then bedetermined based on the spatial position of the limbus.

In some implementations, a position of the eyeball rotation center 310is determined based on identifying spatial attributes of a head of theuser. For example, the 3D spatial position of the head may be determinedusing one or more RGB images of the eye and depth values from a depthmap corresponding to the RGB images. Given a previously determinedspatial relationship between the head and the eyeball rotation center310, the position of the eyeball rotation center 310 may then bedetermined.

In some implementations, a position of the cornea center 325 isdetermined based on identifying spatial attributes of the cornea 320.For example, the 3D spatial position of the cornea (e.g., thedepths/locations of one or more glints 330 on the surface of the cornea)may be determined using a sensor (e.g., a sensor configured to detectglints generated from an illumination source on the device). Theposition of the cornea center 325 may then be determined based on thespatial position of the cornea and a cornea model.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example method 400 for remote eyetracking in accordance with some implementations. As shown in FIG. 4, animaging array includes sensors that obtain RGB images (e.g., an RGBsensor), depth images (e.g., a depth sensor), and IR images (e.g., an IRsensor).

In some implementations, the method 400 determines a gaze direction byidentifying a first location along the optical axis 305 (e.g., eyeballrotation center 310) and a second location along the optical axis 305(e.g., cornea center 325).

At block 410, the method 400 detects an eyelid to detect the eye region.In some implementations, facial landmarks are detected in one or moreRGB images and used to locate the eye region. In some implementations,facial landmarks are detected using a single color of the RGB images.Alternatively, a face recognition application can be used to identify aneye region using facial landmarks. In some implementations, the faciallandmarks include eyelid detection. In some implementations, the faciallandmarks include limbus detection. In some implementations, the faciallandmarks include iris detection.

At block 415, the method 400 uses a predetermined mapping establishedbetween the RGB camera and the depth sensor. Therefore, once the eyeregion is detected in the RGB images, the corresponding portion of adepth map can be accessed to acquire specific depth values for the eyeregion. In some implementations, the RGB camera is a RGB-D camera thatalternates acquisitions of RGB images and depth images. For example,values for a limbus detected within the eye region using the RGB imagescan be retrieved and refined with the depth information from the depthmap of the depth sensor.

At block 420, the method 400 determines a 2D Iris center using RGBimages. In some implementations, the 2D Iris center can be determinedusing the limbus information (e.g., position or depth).

At block 425, the method 400 performs an Iris reconstruction orgenerates a model of an Iris plane. For example, based on the Iriscenter, the Iris plane 315 can be detected and depth values for the Irisplane 315 can be determined and used to reconstruct the Iris plane 315.At block 430, the method 400 determines a 3D center 315 a of the Irisplane 315. From the 3D Iris plane center 315 a, the eyeball rotationcenter 310 can be determined.

In some implementations, the eyeball rotation center 310 is the firstlocation on the optical axis 305.

At block 440, the method 400 detects glints 330 in 2D IR images, and atblock 445, the method uses the 2D glint images to detect a cornea of theeyeball.

At block 450, the method 400 uses the existing mapping establishedbetween the IR sensor and the depth sensor so that once the glints 330are detected, the corresponding portion of the depth map can be accessedto acquire specific depth values for the glints 330. In someimplementations, the IR sensor 220 is a single IR sensor that alternatesacquisitions of 2D glint images and IR depth images.

At block 455, the method 400 performs an cornea reconstruction. Forexample, depth values for the cornea 320 can be used to establish a 3Dmodel of the cornea 320. As shown in FIG. 3, the 3D reconstruction ofthe cornea 320 is a spherical representation, however, other 3Drepresentations can be used. In some implementations, the 3D model ofthe cornea will be different for every person. In some implementations,multiple 3D models of the cornea 320 can be used where each model isstandardized for groups of individuals.

At block 460, the method 400 determines a 3D cornea center position 325.In various implementations, glints 330 detected by the IR sensor areused with the cornea model at block 460 to establish an orientation ofthe cornea 320. For example, parameters of a LED IR source 222 and an IRcamera 220 are known. Glints 330 detected in IR images from the IRcamera 220 can be used to determine the orientation of the cornea 320,which is then used to determine a 3D cornea center position 325. Thus,in some implementations, glints are detected and used with correlateddepth information to determine the 3D cornea center position 325 withthe 3D model of the cornea 320.

In some implementations, the 3D cornea center position 325 is the secondlocation on the optical axis 305.

At block 470, the method 400 can perform an eyeball reconstruction toestablish a transformation from head pose to eyeball rotation centercorresponding the user-specific positioning of the eyeball 300 in eachuser's head. Once the transformation is determined, detecting a currenthead pose can directly result in an updated current eyeball rotationcenter position. In some implementations, a transformation from a headpose to the eyeball rotation center is determined (e.g., when operatingin an enrollment mode of the device 105) in block 470. In someimplementations, the relationship between the head pose and the eyeballcenter will be different for every person.

In some implementations, an enrollment mode of remote eye tracking ofthe device 105 establishes the transformation between the head pose andeyeball rotation center 310 using a single active illumination source(e.g., a single source for glints) and a depth sensor. In someimplementations, the tracking mode of remote eye tracking of the device105 turns off the active illumination source for glints and the depthsensor and uses the transformation from a head pose to the eyeballrotation center along with a facial feature detection sensor (e.g., RGBimages). In some implementations, the tracking mode of remote eyetracking avoids the repeated detection of the specific 3D spatialeyeball rotation center 310 position (and the manner in which it iscalculated, for example blocks 420-430), once the transformation betweenthe head pose and eyeball rotation center 310 is established.

At block 480, the method 400 can optionally optimize the 3D model of thecornea, the 3D model of the facial feature (e.g., Iris plane) and thetransformation between head pose and the first location on the opticalaxis for stabilization or the like.

At block 490, the method 400 determines the 3D gaze direction bydetecting a 3D eyeball rotation center position 325 and detecting a 3Dcornea center position 310. Alternatively, at block 490, the method 400determines the 3D gaze direction from the detected head pose and thetransformation to calculate the 3D eyeball rotation center position 325and the detected 3D cornea center position 310.

For remote eye tracking applications of the device 105, variousimplementations of image sensor arrays or imaging systems can be used.In some implementations, various implementations of image sensor arrayscan be used in an enrollment mode of remote eye tracking and a trackingmode of remote eye tracking of the device 105.

FIG. 5A is a block diagram that shows an example imaging array used tocollect RGB information, IR information and depth information for remoteeye tracking in an electronic device in accordance with someimplementations. As shown in FIG. 5A, the device 105 uses an imagingarray 550 that includes an IR LED, an IR camera, an RGB camera, and a IRdot projector. The IR LED and IR camera provide glint detection using 2DIR images. The RGB camera uses ambient light for eyeball featuredetection or head pose detection. Some implementations use ambientlight, and accordingly, may not work well in dark environments. In someimplementations, the RGB camera can use a known marker placed on theuser to augment head pose detection with ambient light. The IR dotprojector and the IR camera provides depth information using 2D IRimages.

FIG. 5B is a block diagram that shows another example imaging array usedto collect IR information for remote eye tracking in an electronicdevice. As shown in FIG. 5B, only IR sensors are used in imaging array550′. In some implementations, only a single IR sensor is used. In someimplementations, the IR camera uses wavelength detection to determinefacial feature location (e.g., head pose detection). In someimplementations, the IR camera uses structured light imaging todetermine depth information and facial feature location (e.g., head posedetection). The structured light imaging of the IR camera may needsufficient resolution. In some implementations, the IR camera uses dotprojection imaging to determine depth information. The IR LED and IRcamera provide glint detection using 2D IR images. In someimplementations, the IR sensor alternates over time by firstly capturingdepth information using light emitted from the illumination source andsecondly capturing IR images of glints for cornea detection using floodillumination that reflects off the cornea. Alternatively, the IR sensorcan concurrently capture depth information and IR images of glints forcornea detection using light emitted from the illumination source thatreflects off the cornea. In one implementation of concurrent capture,the glints are detected within the images of reflected structured lightpatterns captured by the IR sensor. Thus, the IR sensor is used to bothdetermine the first location on the optical axis (e.g., detect each 3Dspatial position of the eyeball center, or determine the eyeball centertransformation and detect the head pose) and determine the secondlocation on the optical axis (e.g., determine the cornea center).However, upon a transition to tracking mode of remote eye tracking, theimaging array 550′ can turn off IR flood illumination, and ignore orturn off depth information acquisition. In some implementations, thetracking mode of remote eye tracking can use the IR structured lightpattern to determine the head pose and then the feature detection (e.g.,limbus detection) to provide a current second location or estimate acurrent 3D position of the cornea center. As there is little IRillumination in ambient light, the IR structured light imaging may beneeded with or without ambient light.

One use of remote eye tracking is to identify a point of regard (POR) ofa gaze on a display on the device 105, e.g., where the gaze directionintersects the display of the device 105. The POR may or may not begraphically identified on the display. In various implementations, thePOR can be distinguished from other content using a marker or otherindication having distinguishing color, illumination, or shape.

A POR can be determined based on eye position and gaze direction, forexample, based on a 5D pose determination of the eye that includes a 3Dposition (eye position) and 2D orientation (corresponding to gazedirection). The gaze direction can be mapped to intersect a knownlocation of the device 105. In other words, the POR is determined to bethe location on the device where the determined gaze directionintersects the device 105 in space. The POR can be displayed or used tofacilitate interaction with one or more functions on the device 105. Insome implementations, defined or preset movements of the POR at thedisplay of the device 105 are interpreted as operator instructions. Forexample, a vertical or linear movement of the POR on the device 105 canmimic a physical “swipe” operation of a fingertip on the display of thedevice 105. Similarly, lingering the POR at a specific selectionposition for a preset time such as 2 seconds can mimic a “single tap”select operation of a fingertip on the display of the device 105. Otheruser “physical” operations or interactions with the device 105 can alsobe implemented using the POR.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electronic device where remote eyetracking provides POR display at the electronic device in accordancewith some implementations. As shown in FIG. 6, an imaging array 250 atthe electronic device 105 provides remote eye tracking capability.Additional functions 610, 612 and 614 being operated are accessible in avisible top surface of the electronic device 105. When the determinedgaze direction intersects the device 105 in space, a POR 650 can bedisplayed at the intersected location on the device 105. The POR 650 canbe used to interact with one or more functions 610, 612, 614 of theelectronic device 105.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electronic device where remote eyetracking identifies a POR at an additional electronic device coupled tothe electronic device including remote eye tracking. As shown in FIG. 7,the electronic device 105 includes the imaging array 250 to implementthe remote eye tracking capability, and the electronic device 105 iscoupled to a second electronic device 720 shown as a monitor (e.g.,second display). In some implementations, the second electronic device720 can be a computer, PDA, mobile electronic device, smartphone or thelike. In various implementations, POR 750 on a display 730 of the secondelectronic device 720 can be determined using the sensors of or by theelectronic device 105. In various implementations, the extrinsicparameters of the electronic device 105 and the display 730 are known sothat the gaze direction of the user can be tracked and POR intersectionswith the display 730 used as described herein. In variousimplementations, the electronic device 105 is directly or indirectlycoupled 710 (e.g., wired or wireless) to the second electronic device720.

The POR-enabled interactions disclosed herein provide advantages in avariety of circumstances and implementations when used with the device105 or the second electronic device 720. In some implementations, amobile electronic device (mobile phone, etc.) uses POR enabledinteractions by various implementations described herein to providefocus selection in camera applications. Alternatively, in someimplementations, POR enabled by various implementations described hereinprovides auto-scrolling when the user reaches the bottom of a section, apage or a region of perusable content or text/content selection. In someimplementations, POR enabled by various implementations described hereinprovides feedback or gaze path metrics for user reading/review analysissuch as but not limited to detection diagnostics for dyslexia or todetermine the extent an opened email was read (e.g., subject line, briefreview or word by word review to the end). In some implementations, PORenabled by various implementations described herein provides point ofview stabilization (e.g., improve image quality on specific region of adisplay) or a privacy mode where a portion of the viewed content is notchanged, but all other portions of the display are scrambled (e.g.,reading text, scramble all words except the word being looked at). Insome implementations, POR enabled by various implementations describedherein provides enablement/selection (e.g., turn display on and off).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating device components of device 105according to some implementations. While certain specific features areillustrated, those skilled in the art will appreciate from the presentdisclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for thesake of brevity, and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of theimplementations disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limitingexample, in some implementations the device 105 includes one or moreprocessing units 802 (e.g., microprocessors, ASICs, FPGAs, GPUs, CPUs,processing cores, or the like), one or more input/output (I/O) devicesand sensors 806, one or more communication interfaces 808 (e.g., USB,FIREWIRE, THUNDERBOLT, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.16x, GSM,CDMA, TDMA, GPS, IR, BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, SPI, I2C, or the like typeinterface), one or more programming (e.g., I/O) interfaces 810, one ormore displays 812, one or more interior or exterior facing image sensorsystems 814, a memory 820, and one or more communication buses 804 forinterconnecting these and various other components.

In some implementations, the one or more communication buses 804 includecircuitry that interconnects and controls communications between systemcomponents. In some implementations, the one or more I/O devices andsensors 806 include at least one of a touch screen, a soft key, akeyboard, a virtual keyboard, a button, a knob, a joystick, a switch, adial, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), an accelerometer, amagnetometer, a gyroscope, a thermometer, one or more physiologicalsensors (e.g., blood pressure monitor, heart rate monitor, blood oxygensensor, blood glucose sensor, etc.), one or more microphones, one ormore speakers, a haptics engine, one or more depth sensors (e.g., astructured light, a time-of-flight, or the like), or the like. In someimplementations, movement, rotation, or position of the device 105detected by the one or more I/O devices and sensors 806 provides inputto the device 105.

In some implementations, the one or more displays 812 are configured topresent an MR environment. In some implementations, the one or moredisplays 812 correspond to holographic, digital light processing (DLP),liquid-crystal display (LCD), liquid-crystal on silicon (LCoS), organiclight-emitting field-effect transitory (OLET), organic light-emittingdiode (OLED), surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED),field-emission display (FED), quantum-dot light-emitting diode (QD-LED),micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), or the like display types. Insome implementations, the one or more displays 812 correspond todiffractive, reflective, polarized, holographic, etc. waveguidedisplays. In one example, the device 105 includes a single display. Inanother example, the device 105 includes an display for each eye. Insome implementations, the one or more displays 812 are capable ofpresenting MR or VR content.

In some implementations, the one or more image sensor systems 814 areconfigured to obtain image data that corresponds to at least a portionof a scene local to the device 105. The one or more image sensor systems814 can include one or more RGB cameras (e.g., with a complimentarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge-coupled device(CCD) image sensor), monochrome camera, IR camera, event-based camera,or the like. In various implementations, the one or more image sensorsystems 814 further include illumination sources that emit light, suchas a flash. In some implementations, the one or more image sensorsystems 814 provide imaging sensors for remote eye tracking.

The memory 820 includes high-speed random-access memory, such as DRAM,SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random-access solid-state memory devices. Insome implementations, the memory 820 includes non-volatile memory, suchas one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storagedevices. The memory 820 optionally includes one or more storage devicesremotely located from the one or more processing units 802. The memory820 comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In someimplementations, the memory 820 or the non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of the memory 820 stores the following programs, modulesand data structures, or a subset thereof including an optional operatingsystem 830 and one or more applications 840.

The operating system 830 includes procedures for handling various basicsystem services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In someimplementations, the operating system 830 includes built in MRfunctionality, for example, including an MR experience application orviewer that is configured to be called from the one or more applications840 to display an MR environment within a user interface. In someimplementations, the operating system 830 includes built in remote eyetracking functionality.

The applications 840 include an remote eye tracking unit 842 and a PORexperience unit 844. The remote eye tracking unit 842 and POR experienceunit 844 can be combined into a single application or unit or separatedinto one or more additional applications or units. The remote eyetracking unit 842 is configured with instructions executable by aprocessor to perform remote eye tracking using one or more of thetechniques disclosed herein. The remote eye tracking unit 842 caninclude one or both an enrollment mode and a tracking mode using one ormore of the techniques disclosed herein. The POR experience unit 844 isconfigured with instructions executable by a processor to provide thePOR functionality at the device 105 or electronic devices coupledthereto.

FIG. 8 is intended more as a functional description of the variousfeatures which are present in a particular implementation as opposed toa structural schematic of the implementations described herein. Asrecognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, items shown separatelycould be combined and some items could be separated. For example, somefunctional modules shown separately in FIG. 8 could be implemented in asingle module and the various functions of single functional blockscould be implemented by one or more functional blocks in variousimplementations. The actual number of modules and the division ofparticular functions and how features are allocated among them will varyfrom one implementation to another and, in some implementations, dependsin part on the particular combination of hardware, software, or firmwarechosen for a particular implementation. In some implementations, blockdiagram illustrating components of device 105 can similarly representthe components of electronic devices that can be interconnected locallyor remotely.

FIGS. 9-11 are a flowchart representations of methods for remote eyetracking by an electronic device in accordance with someimplementations. In some implementations, methods 900, 1000, 1100 areperformed by a device (e.g., device 105 of FIGS. 1-2, 6-8). The methods900, 1000, 1100 can be performed at a mobile device, HMD, desktop,laptop, or server device. In some implementations, the methods 900,1000, 1100 are performed by processing logic, including hardware,firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In some implementations,the methods 900, 1000, 1100 are performed by a processor executing codestored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a memory).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart representation of an example method for remote eyetracking according to some implementations. As shown in FIG. 9, remoteeye tracking can be performed in an enrollment mode of remote eyetracking or in a tracking mode remote eye tracking of an electronicdevice. In various implementations, the tracking mode uses a known 3Dhead pose to eyeball 3D position transformation and fewer sensors orless power (than the enrollment mode) to estimate a gaze direction.

At block 910 the method 900 operates in the enrollment mode duringremote eye tracking. In various implementations, the enrollment modedetermines a current gaze direction (e.g., block 912) by determining 2positions on an optical axis of the eye.

At block 912, the method 900 determines a current first location (e.g.,an 3D eyeball position) along the optical axis in a 3D coordinate systemusing detected eye feature information and corresponding depthinformation from a depth sensor. At block 912, the method 900 determinesa current second location (e.g., a 3D cornea position) along the opticalaxis in the 3D coordinate system using detected cornea reflections andcorresponding depth information from a depth sensor (e.g., see FIGS.3-4). At block 912, the method 900 determines a current gaze directionusing the current first location and the current second location.

At block 914, the method 900 performs an eyeball reconstruction toestablish a transformation from a 3D head position to eyeball rotationcenter for the user because an eyeball rotation center is uniquelypositioned in the head of the user. Once the transformation isdetermined, detecting a current head position can directly result in acalculated current 3D eyeball rotation center position. In someimplementations, a transformation from a 3D head position to the eyeballrotation center is determined as described herein, for example see block470. In some implementations, the method 900 completely determines thetransformation from head pose to eyeball rotation center in theenrollment mode. In some implementations, the relationship between the3D head position and the eyeball rotation center will be different forevery person. In some implementations, the transformation includescoordinating between a first 3D coordinate system for the head positionand a second 3D coordinate system for the eye position.

At block 916, the method 900 performs a cornea reconstruction orgenerates a 3D model of the cornea. In some implementations, the corneacan be detected in an eye region located by detected facial features. Insome implementations, depth values can be used to establish a 3D modelof the detected cornea in the detected eye region. As shown in FIG. 3,the 3D reconstruction of the cornea 320 is a spherical representation,however, other 3D representations can be used. In some implementations,the 3D model of the detected cornea will be different for every person.In some implementations, the method 900 completes the 3D model of thecornea in the enrollment mode. In some implementations, glints detectedby active illumination are used with the cornea model (e.g., surfacecurvatures, aspect ratio) and corresponding depth information toestablish an orientation of the cornea.

At block 920, the method 900 performs remote eye tracking in thetracking mode. At block 920, because the head pose to eyeball centertransformation is determined, the tracking mode uses a detected 3D headposition to determine the gaze direction. In some implementations, thedevice 105 turns off the depth sensor and the active illumination sourceand uses only the feature detection sensor (e.g., RGB camera) in thetracking mode.

In some implementations, at block 920, the method 900 uses only the RGBsensor or images to update the gaze direction in the tracking mode. Atblock 920, the method 900 determines a first location and a secondlocation along an optical axis to determine a gaze direction. In someimplementations, the RGB images are used to determine facial features todetermine the current 3D head position (e.g., a head tracker functioncan determine the head pose). Then, the method 900 uses thetransformation and the current updated 3D head position to identify thecurrent updated 3D eyeball rotation center position (e.g., the firstlocation). Also at block 920, the limbus is detected in the RGB images,and used to determine an updated 3D limbus center position. The updated3D limbus center position is used to update an orientation of the corneaand determine an updated current 3D cornea center position (e.g., thesecond location). In various implementations, the updated eyeball center3D position and the updated current 3D cornea center position are usedto determine the updated current gaze direction at block 920. In variousimplementations, the other elements of the imaging array (e.g., imagingarray 250) are turned off in the tracking mode. In some implementations,the eyeball center position is assumed to be fixed in position so thatthe fixed position eyeball rotation center and the updated cornea centerposition can be used to determine the updated current gaze direction.

Alternatively, in some implementations, at block 920, the RGB images and2D glint images are used to update the gaze direction in the trackingmode. In some implementations, the RGB images are used to determinefacial features to determine the current 3D head position (e.g., a headtracker function can determine the head pose). Then, the method 900 usesthe transformation and the current updated 3D head position to identifythe current updated 3D eyeball rotation center position (e.g., the firstlocation). Then, at block 920, additional 2D glint images can be used(e.g., with a cornea model) to update an orientation of cornea anddetermine an updated current 3D cornea center position. In variousimplementations, the updated the eyeball center 3D position and theupdated current 3D cornea center position are used to update the currentgaze direction at block 920. In some implementations, the 2D glintimages are provided by an IR LED and IR sensor or provided by a red LEDand the RGB camera.

In yet other alternative implementations, at block 920 the method 900uses the RGB images in the tracking mode to determine the limbus 3D pose(e.g., 3D position and orientation). In such implementations, the 3Dlimbus shape is determined or provided (e.g., modeled in the enrollmentmode). Further, a transformation from the 3D limbus pose to the 3D headposition (e.g., or to eyeball rotation center) is determined or provided(e.g., modeled in the enrollment mode). Then, a current pose of thelimbus can be calculated from the 2D image of the limbus obtained in thetracking mode. For example, if the limbus shape were a circle in aplanar surface of a known size, a detected 2D limbus shape that was anellipse of different detected size having a angled orientation providesenough information to calculate the limbus pose (e.g., 3D position and2D orientation (pan orientation and tilt orientation). Thus, in someimplementations, the 3D position of the limbus can be used for currenthead pose calculations (e.g., 3D eyeball center position) and the limbusorientation can be used for current cornea calculations (e.g., 3D corneacenter position) to update the gaze tracking direction.

Although shown in FIG. 9 as a single progression from the enrollmentmode to the tracking mode, in some implementations, the electronicdevice implementing the method 900 could repeatedly switch between theenrollment mode and the tracking mode. Although, described using RGBimages, various implementations in block 910 and 920 can use othercombinations of images or images sensors, for example, IR images or IRsensors only.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart representation of another example method forremote eye tracking according to some implementations. At block 1010,the method 1000 detects a first attribute of an eye based on pixeldifferences associated with different wavelengths of light in a firstimage of the eye. In some implementations, the limbus or the iris can beidentified based on color differences or wavelength differences in anRGB image or a high-resolution structured light pattern IR image. Insome implementations, facial landmarks or a facial recognitionapplication can be used to determine a region or an eye region to searchfor the first attribute.

At block 1020, the method 1000 determines a first location associatedwith the first attribute in a three dimensional (3D) coordinate systembased on depth information from a depth sensor. In variousimplementations, there exists a mapping from the first images to thedepth information or depth images from the depth sensor. In someimplementations, the mapping is used to obtain detailed depthinformation from the corresponding portion of the depth information(e.g., depth map). Using depth information for the first attribute, a 3Dposition of a feature of the eye is determined such as the limbus oriris plane, a 3D location of the eyeball rotation center in the 3D spaceis determined. In some implementations, the 3D location of the eyeballrotation center is the first location.

At block 1030, the method 1000 detects a second attribute of the eyebased on a glint resulting from light of an illumination source (e.g.,an IR flood-illumination source, a red LED and the RGB camera)reflecting off a cornea of the eye. In various implementations, thecornea can be identified based on one or more glint detections.

At block 1040, the method 1000 determines a second location associatedwith the second attribute in the 3D coordinate system based on the depthinformation from the depth sensor. In some implementations, the corneais detected using glints in the IR images, which are used to obtainrequired depth information from the corresponding portion in the depthmap. This results in a location in 3D space of the cornea (e.g.,orientation), which can be used to estimate a 3D location of the centerof the cornea. In some implementations, the 3D location of the center ofthe cornea is the second location.

At block 1050, the method 1000 determines a gaze direction in the 3Dcoordinate system based on the first location and the second location.In some implementations, the first location and the second location areon the optical axis of the eye and a line connecting these two pointsprovides a gaze direction. In some implementations, a direction from the3D eyeball rotation center to the 3D cornea center provides the gazedirection.

One use of remote eye tracking by the device is to identify a point ofregard (POR). In some implementations, the method 1000 implements gazedetection in the enrollment mode of remote eye tracking by the device105. In some implementations, in blocks 1010 to 1040, the 5D of the eyein space, namely a 3D position and 2D orientation is determined (e.g.,2D orientation includes “pan” and “tilt”, but not “roll”).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart representation of yet another example method forremote eye tracking according to some implementations. As shown in FIG.11, at block 1110, the method 1100 detects a first attribute of an eyebased on pixel differences associated with different wavelengths oflight in a first image of the eye. In some implementations, the limbusor the iris plane can be identified based on color differences orwavelength differences in 2D RGB image(s) or a high-resolutionstructured light pattern IR image(s).

At block 1120, the method 1100 determines a first location associatedwith the first attribute in a three dimensional (3D) coordinate systembased on depth information from a depth sensor. In variousimplementations, there exists a mapping from the second images to thedepth information or depth images from the depth sensor. In someimplementations, the first attribute or the detected limbus in the RGBimage is used to obtain depth information from that region in acorresponding depth map. In some implementations, the detected limbusand a 3D eye model are used to determine a orientation of the limbus anda 3D location of the limbus center in the 3D space. From the 3D limbuscenter position, a 3D location of a center of the cornea can bedetermined and used for the first location associated with the firstattribute.

At block 1130, the method 1100 determines a head location in the threedimensional (3D) coordinate system based on a head (e.g., eye region)detected in at least one second image and the depth information from thedepth sensor. In some implementations, the head location is detected inthe RGB image and used to obtain depth information for the correspondingregion in a depth map. In some implementations, the 3d pose of the headcan be determined from facial landmark identified at block 1130.

At block 1140, the method 1100 determines a second location associatedwith a second attribute of the eye in the 3D coordinate system based onthe 3D head pose and a previously-determined spatial relationshipbetween the 3D head pose and the 3D eye model. In some implementations,the transformation between the subject's head position in 3D space and alocation of the eye rotation center in the 3D space. In someimplementations, this transformation can be individualized to eachsubject. In some implementations, this transformation can be determinedin an enrollment mode or otherwise provided for use by the method 1100.In various implementations, the detected head location and the knownhead pose-to-eyeball rotation center transformation are used to identifythe second location (e.g., 3D location of the eyeball rotation center).

At block 1150, the method 1100 determines a gaze direction in the 3Dcoordinate system based on the first location and the second location.In some implementations, the first location and the second location areon the optical axis of the eye and a line connecting these two pointsprovides a gaze direction. In some implementations, a direction from the3D eyeball center to the 3D cornea center provides the gaze direction.

One use of remote eye tracking by the device is to identify a point ofregard (POR). In some implementations, the method 1100 implements gazedetection in the tracking mode of remote eye tracking by the device 105.

In some implementations, methods 900, 1000, 1100 can be implemented inan electronic device having an RGB camera, a depth sensor and an activeillumination source and detector. In some implementations, methods 900,1000, 1100 can be implemented in an electronic device having an RGB-Dcamera, and an active illumination source and sensor. In someimplementations, methods 900, 1000, 1100 can be implemented in anelectronic device having a color active illumination source anddetector.

In various implementations described herein, the device 105 determines agaze direction of a user (e.g., in enrollment mode, tracking mode,methods 900, 1000, 1100), which can also be used for POR techniques,using a single eye of the user. However, various implementationsdescribed herein are not intended to be so limited. For example, in someimplementations, the gaze direction can be determined using both eyes ofthe user. Further, in some implementations, the POR functionality can bedetermined using two gaze directions, namely, one from each eye of theuser. In some implementations, such a stereoscopic gaze direction maynot equal an optical axis of either eye.

In various implementations, the device 105 may detect an object anddetermine its pose (e.g., position and orientation in 3D space) based onconventional 2D or 3D object detection and localization algorithms,visual inertial odometry (VIO) information, infrared data, depthdetection data, RGB-D data, other information, or some combinationthereof using techniques disclosed herein. In some implementations, thepose is detected in each frame of the captured image 400. In oneimplementation, after pose detection in a first frame, in subsequentframes of the sequence of frames, the device 105 can determine anappropriate transform (e.g., adjustment of the pose) to determine thepose of the object in each subsequent frame.

In some implementations, VIO is used to determine a location of the realobject in a 3D space used by a VIO system based on the location of thereal object in the physical environment (e.g., 2 meters in front of theuser). In some implementations, the VIO system analyzes image sensor orcamera data (“visual”) to identify landmarks used to measure(“odometry”) how the image sensor is moving in space relative to theidentified landmarks. Motion sensor (“inertial”) data is used tosupplement or provide complementary information that the VIO systemcompares to image data to determine its movement in space. In someimplementations, a depth map is created for the real object and used todetermine the pose of the 3D model in a 3D space.

Numerous specific details are set forth herein to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the claimed subject matter. However, those skilled inthe art will understand that the claimed subject matter may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, methods apparatuses,or systems that would be by one of ordinary skill have not beendescribed in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, it is appreciated that throughoutthis specification discussions utilizing the terms such as “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” and “identifying” or the likerefer to actions or processes of a computing device, such as one or morecomputers or a similar electronic computing device or devices, thatmanipulate or transform data represented as physical electronic ormagnetic quantities within memories, registers, or other informationstorage devices, transmission devices, or display devices of thecomputing platform.

The system or systems discussed herein are not limited to any particularhardware architecture or configuration. A computing device can includeany suitable arrangement of components that provides a resultconditioned on one or more inputs. Suitable computing devices includemultipurpose microprocessor-based computer systems accessing storedsoftware that programs or configures the computing system from a generalpurpose computing apparatus to a specialized computing apparatusimplementing one or more implementations of the present subject matter.Any suitable programming, scripting, or other type of language orcombinations of languages may be used to implement the teachingscontained herein in software to be used in programming or configuring acomputing device.

Implementations of the methods disclosed herein may be performed in theoperation of such computing devices. The order of the blocks presentedin the examples above can be varied for example, blocks can bere-ordered, combined, or broken into sub-blocks. Certain blocks orprocesses can be performed in parallel.

The use of “adapted to” or “configured to” herein is meant as open andinclusive language that does not foreclose devices adapted to orconfigured to perform additional tasks or steps. Additionally, the useof “based on” is meant to be open and inclusive, in that a process,step, calculation, or other action “based on” one or more recitedconditions or values may, in practice, be based on additional conditionsor value beyond those recited. Headings, lists, and numbering includedherein are for ease of explanation only and are not meant to belimiting.

It will also be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,”etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elementsshould not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used todistinguish one element from another. For example, a first node could betermed a second node, and, similarly, a second node could be termed afirst node, which changing the meaning of the description, so long asall occurrences of the “first node” are renamed consistently and alloccurrences of the “second node” are renamed consistently. The firstnode and the second node are both nodes, but they are not the same node.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularimplementations only and is not intended to be limiting of the claims.As used in the description of the implementations and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as usedherein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “comprises” or “comprising,” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon”or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination”or “in response to detecting,” that a stated condition precedent istrue, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it isdetermined [that a stated condition precedent is true]” or “if [a statedcondition precedent is true]” or “when [a stated condition precedent istrue]” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response todetermining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “upon detecting”or “in response to detecting” that the stated condition precedent istrue, depending on the context.

The foregoing description and summary of the disclosure are to beunderstood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but notrestrictive, and the scope of the disclosure disclosed herein is not tobe determined only from the detailed description of illustrativeimplementations but according to the full breadth permitted by patentlaws. It is to be understood that the implementations shown anddescribed herein are only illustrative of the principles of the presentdisclosure and that various modification may be implemented by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: at a device having one ormore processors, one or more image sensors, and an illumination source,detecting a first attribute of an eye based on pixel differencesassociated with different wavelengths of light in a first image of ahead including the eye; determining a first location associated with thefirst attribute in a three dimensional (3D) coordinate system based onhead pose detection using depth information from a depth sensor and aspatial relationship between a head pose and a rotation center of theeye; detecting a second attribute of the eye based on a glint resultingfrom light of the illumination source reflecting off a cornea of theeye; determining a second location associated with the second attributein the 3D coordinate system based on the depth information from thedepth sensor; and determining a gaze direction in the 3D coordinatesystem based on the first location and the second location.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first location is the rotation center ofthe eye.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the first attributecomprises: detecting facial landmarks in the first image.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein determining the first location is based on the headpose detection and a previously-determined spatial relationship betweenthe head and the rotation center of the eye.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein determining the first location comprises: locating the rotationcenter of the eye based on a 3D model of the eye.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein determining the second location comprises: locating thecornea using the detected cornea and a depth map from a depth sensor; orlocating a cornea center.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprisingdetermining a point of regard on the device based on the gaze directionand location of the device.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one ormore image sensors comprise: a red-green-blue (RGB) image sensor,wherein the first image is captured by the RGB image sensor; and aninfrared (IR) sensor, wherein the second image is captured by the IRsensor.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the IR sensor is the depthsensor, wherein the IR sensor alternates over time capturing depthinformation and IR images of glints for cornea detection.
 10. The methodof claim 8, wherein the IR sensor is the depth sensor, wherein the IRsensor concurrently captures depth information and IR images of glintsfor cornea detection using structured light emitted from theillumination source that reflects off the eye.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein the one or more image sensors comprise a single infrared (IR)sensor, wherein the first image and second image are captured by the IRsensor, wherein the IR sensor alternates over time capturing firstattribute images and second attribute images.
 12. The method of claim 1further comprising: determining the head pose in the 3D coordinatesystem; determining the rotation center of the eye in the 3D coordinatesystem; and identifying the spatial relationship between the head poseand the rotation center of the eye.
 13. A method, comprising: at adevice having one or more processors, one or more image sensors, and anillumination source, detecting a first attribute of an eye based onpixel differences associated with different wavelengths of light in afirst image of the eye; determining a first location associated with thefirst attribute in a three dimensional (3D) coordinate system based ondepth information from a depth sensor; determining a head pose in thethree dimensional (3D) coordinate system based on a head detected in asecond image and the depth information from the depth sensor;determining a second location associated with a second attribute of theeye based on the head pose and a previously-determined spatialrelationship between the head pose and a rotation center of the eye; anddetermining a gaze direction in the 3D coordinate system based on thefirst location and the second location.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein detecting the first attribute comprises: identifying a limbus ofthe eye based on color differences in an RGB image corresponding toreflected ambient light identifying a limbus of the eye based ondifferences in an infrared (IR) image corresponding to reflected floodIR light emitted from the illumination source.
 15. The method of claim13, wherein detecting the first attribute comprises: detecting faciallandmarks in the first image; identifying an eye region of the firstimage based on the facial landmarks; and detecting the first attributein the eye region.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining thefirst location is based on a portion of a depth map corresponding to aneye region of the first image.
 17. The method of claim 13, whereindetermining the first location comprises: locating a limbus using thedetected first attribute and a depth map from a depth sensor; orlocating a limbus center based on a 3D model of the eye.
 18. The methodof claim 13, wherein determining the head pose is based on an RGB image,an infrared image, or a feature-matching technique.
 19. The method ofclaim 13 further comprising determining a point of regard on the devicebased on the gaze direction and a location of the device.
 20. Anelectronic device, comprising: at least one active illumination source;a sensor configured to detect depth information in a first image andglints for cornea detection in a second image from reflections of lightemitted by the at least one active illumination source; and one or moreprocessors coupled to the active illumination source and the sensor toprovide remote gaze tracking; where the one or more processors determinea first location associated with a first attribute detected in the firstimage in a three dimensional (3D) coordinate system based on the depthinformation; where the one or more processors determine a secondlocation associated with the detected glints detected in the secondimage in the 3D coordinate system based on the depth information; andwhere the one or more processors determine a gaze direction in the 3Dcoordinate system based on the first location and the second location,wherein the first location is determined based on head pose detectionusing depth information in the first image and a previously-determinedspatial relationship between a head pose and a rotation center of theeye.